The Steamship Shieldhall talk 6 February

Published 16:41 on 11 Feb 2026

This was an excellent talk by Volunteer Stoker Paul Hurst in anticipation of the clubs trip on the ship this coming July.

 SS Shieldhall was built on the Clyde in the mid 1950s and launched in July 1955. She was a replacement for the first Shieldhall which had been operating on the Clyde for over 45 years. Both Shieldhalls were built as Sludge ships for removing sludge (treated sewage) from Glasgow and dumping it out at sea. This practice had become common place since the industrialisation of the 19th century had meant more people in growing towns and cities all around the country. Their waste needed to be dealt with somehow!

 The second SS Shieldhall was designed to be oil fired and was never coal fired. Like the first Shieldhall she was also designed with a substantial lounge area so that the ship could provide day trips on the Clyde for wounded servicemen and disadvantaged families. She worked on the Clyde until 1976 and was then purchased by Southern Water in 1977 to take sludge from Southampton to be dumped east of IoW. After much maintenance and refurbishment including repurposing of the lounge area to staff accommodation she began work in 1980 and continued until she was withdrawn from service in 1985.

 Shieldhall was nearly lost at this point but fortunately charitable sources stepped in to save her. Significant work was required to return her to seaworthiness and the lounge area was restored so that by 1991 she was able to carry passengers again, still based in Southampton. Fast forward to 2026 and she is still carrying passengers for trips out in the Solent as well as educating school children, youth groups and available as a hospitality venue.

Paul provided many technical details and statistics about the ship - a few highlights were:

•  She still has her 2 original boilers (NB The Waverley, her rival as a heritage ship, has had her boilers replaced twice!)
• Triple expansion engines - high, medium and low pressure cylinders from which the steam is recycled

• Steam drives all the auxiliary equipment on board as well as the engines
• In 2025 she carried ~3500 passengers
• Uses 0.75 ton fuel/h when steaming
• Largest vessel in Europe run entirely by volunteers of which they are very proud!

 Paul ended the talk with a rendition of the "Shieldhall Song", providing vocals and guitar himself with audience participation.

It sounds like our trip in July will be very interesting and enjoyable when all those who wish to can visit the engine and boiler rooms and many other parts of the ship. Book your place now on HYC website!

For more information on SS Shieldhall visit:   www.ss-shieldhall.co.uk

On the "Our Ship" page you will find lots of information, including a Ship Tour section with pictures and explanation of the bridge, engine room, boiler room and steering gear.

Mair Sowood

Last updated 11:45 on 12 February 2026